The Patriots reportedly have strong interest in Schobel, NESN.com reports.

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The Patriots are looking for a replacement in the pass-rushing department for Derrick Burgess, who is currently contemplating retirement. Schobel's contractual demands could end up being a deal-breaker for New England, but in any case, Houston and Seattle are also reportedly in the mix for the former Bills DE.

8/6/2010

Texans owner Bob McNair admitted his team is interested in Schobel, the Houston Chronicle reports.

Schefter adds that Schobel wants to play this year after contemplating retirement this offseason, but it won't be with Buffalo, the only team he has known in his nine-year career. It's a bit surprising the Bills didn't make more of an effort to get some compensation for him in a trade, but if you think about it, Schobel's salary was so high under his contract with the Bills that it would have been very difficult to trade him. So instead of trying to finagle a minor catch in exchange for Schobel, the organization took the high route for a nine-year loyal player. Now Schobel will be free to sign elsewhere, possibly with his home-state Texans.

8/2/2010

The Bills say they're moving on without Schobel, who has been mulling retirement from his home in Texas, WBEN 930 reports.

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Schobel has always been a good team player and a big producer, but this is an entirely new management staff that owes him nothing, and they're trying to install a new defense with a slew of new players in new positions ... so they feel it's now time to cut the cord rather than wait for a guy who may or may not want to play.
Schobel has four years left on a $50.5 million contract extension he signed in 2007. A trade to another team, perhaps Houston, is still a possibility.

7/29/2010

The Bills have placed Schobel on the Reserve/Did Not Report list, BuffaloBills.com reports.

Schobel is most of the way to retirement, but seems to have some desire to continue if he was given the perfect arrangement, something that would give him time with his family and keep his offseason/practice work to a minimum. The Bills seem to want him totally committed, and Schobel understands that, so his time in Buffalo is probably done. But he lives near Houston, so that remains a possibility under the right circumstance. The Bills could also end up in such dire straits at OLB that they just call up Schobel in September, knowing he'd be ready pretty quickly if he still had the interest to play. You don't want to draft him as an IDP unless he's fully committed to playing, and has a starting job. Schobel has much more value as a DE than an outside linebacker.

2009

Another potentially elite defensive end coming off a significant injury, Schobel could produce top IDP numbers if completely healthy. Known as a relentless worker, Schobel averaged 10.8 sacks and 58.6 tackles per year from 2002 to 2006 -- and didn't miss a single game in that span. He produced 57 tackles 2007, but it was an off year as his sack total dropped to a career-low 6.5. And 2008 was worse -- sidelined by injury for the first time in his career, Schobel played in just six games. He's been healthy enough to participate in the Bills' offseason program and should be completely healthy for the upcoming season.

2008

Schobel's sack total fell from 14 in 2006 to 6.5 in 2007, but he should see a return to glory with the addition of Marcus Shroud to Buffalo's defensive line.

2007

You're not excited about Aaron Schobel. You're reading about him, but unless you're from Buffalo, Schobel doesn't quicken the pulse. Maybe that's because, as fine an athlete as he is with the range and strength to be a perennial fantasy Pro Bowler, little about Schobel stands out. Sure, he's got plenty of physical talents, but it’s recognition and the motivation to fight through traffic and get to the ball that make him dangerous. Quarterbacks can tell you, he's quite good at that. After a somewhat slow start in the first four weeks last season, Schobel had sacks in 10 of his next 11 games, totaling 13 in that span. He finished the season with 14, third-best in the league. It was actually a down year with his tackle total (in the 70s the previous two years) dipping to 53. Want another nice streak? Schobel hasn't missed a game in his six-year career. And he's had 11.5 sacks or more in three of his past four seasons. His desire, intelligence and ability make for one of the best, and possibly most underrated, ends in the game.

2006

Name a category, and Schobel had a career-high in it last season, one in which he was second only to Derrick Burgess in the lineman year-end standings. Year-in and year-out, Schobel works every down and every game, playing with solid edge rush speed and technique. He has improved every year in his tackle counts, though expecting better than 54 solos in 2006 is foolhardy. He’s lost Sam Adams’ support on the interior, but Buffalo signed Larry Tripplett from Indianapolis and reached to draft John McCargo in the first round this past April. Schobel won’t wow you with his stats or abilities as much as some other top ends, but he also keep turning in solid years one after another. Ten sacks is always a realistic possibility with Schobel.

2005

Schobel had a down year with sacks in 2004 after posting 11.5 in 2003, but made up for it with increased tackling. Typically in the low-to-mid-30s, his tackle stats have kicked up every year he’s been a pro. The sack numbers dipped in part because the Bills deployed him in zone coverage more often than in the past and also emphasized rushing from the middle and left side (Schobel plays right end). Schobel loses talented tackle Pat Williams, but still has Sam Adams eating up blockers on the inside and an improving Chris Kelsay at left end. The Bills’ defensive schemes certainly worked well last year – they were a top shelf fantasy team defense – so expect similar numbers from Schobel.

2004

Schobel has become a sack producer you can rely on. He seems to stay healthy, has a high motor, and more than anyone benefits from Sam Adams and Pat Williams clogging up the line. Schobel has 26.5 sacks in just his first three NFL seasons, and given good health, another 8-10 season should be money in the bank.

2003

Schobel has become a sack producer you can rely on. He seems to stay healthy, has a high motor, and more than anyone benefits from Sam Adams and Pat Williams clogging up the line. Schobel has 26.5 sacks in just his first three NFL seasons, and given good health, another 8-10 season should be money in the bank.